Clothes-pressing apparatus.



A. J. HUFFMAN.

CLOTHES PRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION YILBD MAY 21,1908.

1 Patente. BLar. 9, 1915 3 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

avwemto'c 5 MM W 130 1711 zqoeo J. HOFFMAN.

CLOTHES PRESSING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1908.

1, 1 30,9Q2. Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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CLOTHES PRESSING APPARATUS. APPLIUATION FILED MAY 21, 1908.

1,130,902. Patented M -9,1915.

I Y, SSHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q/Vitneooeo ADON J; HOFFMAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK;

Specification of Letters Patent.

CLOTHES-PRESSING APPARATUS.

I Application filed May 21, 1908. Serial N 0. 434,134.

T all whom it may concern Be it known .that I, Anon J. HOFFMAN,

- a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes Pressing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

' exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whlch' it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in clothes pressing apparatus,.and has for an object the provision of an apparatus in which pressure and steam are applied to the article being pressed at the same time.

- Another object in view is the provision of means arranged to apply steam and mechanical pressure at the same time and followed by a blast of heated air.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus provided with a buckboard, a support, a presser head, and means for causing the presser head to apply moisture and pressure at the same time, the moisture and pressure being succeeded by heated air.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a pressing apparatus having traveling means for providing moisture for the garment to be pressed, means for applying heat and pressure to the garment to be pressed, and for converting said moisture into steam for renovating said garment, and means for supplying heated air to said garment at any desired time;

With these andother objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a presser head,

Fig. 3 is an end view of the structure shown "in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 6

approximately on line H. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view of one end of a presser head, and surrounding mechanism. Fig. 6 is asection through Fig. 2, approximately on line 66. I

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a frame or support of any desired kind, having a table 2 alsolof any desired struction and arrangement desired to move support 6 treadle 8 may be ply all these,

kind. Mounted upon table 2 is a goose-neck: i

support 3 having a buck or support 4: see cured thereto. Pivotally mounted at 5 upon support 1 is a bifurcated or forked support 6. Pivotally connected with the lower end of lever 6 is a link 7 which in turn-is pivotally connected to a foot lever or treadle 8. The foot lever or treadle 8 is pivotally mounted at 9 to support 1 and is normally held in an elevated position by a spring 10 which is secured .at one end to treadle 8,-

and at the otherto the table 2. By this conwhenever it is depressed, or if depressed, may be permitted to move upward under the action of spring 10, spring 10 being of suflicient strength to move lever 6 and the presser head and connected mechanism. The upper ends of the bifurcated portion of member 6 are pro vided with sleeves 11-11 that have slidably mounted therein bars 1212 which in turn are secured to presser head 13 by any desired means as, for instance, bolts. By this construction and arrangement presser head Patented Mari 9, 1915.

13 may be reciprocated so as to be moved from above buck 4 when an article is being placed upon the buck, and then moved back over the buck article.

The presser head 13 is composed of a numpreparatory to pressing the her of parts, and has connected thereto a number of parts that, when associated together, provide a complete strucure that is adapted to thoroughly clean and press an article placed upon the buckboard 4. In cleaning and pressing an article it is desired to use a mechanical pressure, steam or mois ture of some kind, and a drying means. As arranged presser head 13 is adapted to supand also to supply them in such a. manner as to secure the best results, and to not only clean and press the article, but to raise the nap thereon and to give an exceptionally fine appearance to the article after the same has gone through the pressing operation. In accomplishing these results a pressing'iron 14 is provided which may be of any desired thickness, but is made hollow or with a number of passage ways therein for accommodating air and for distributing the air as hereinafter fully described. The lower surface of the pressing iron 14: is provided with a perforated or foraminous surface through which air is adapted to pass fromthehollowedout portion or passage ways 15. In making the iron 14 hollow the same is provided with a number of lugs or supporting members'lfi'that are preferably of considerable size so as to convey heat from the upper surface of the iron to the lower surface, and to not depend entirely upon the a; in the iron to convey heat from burners 17 to the lower or. perforated surface of the ,iron'. The iron 14: is preferably secured to arms or bars 12-12 by means of upstanding members or ears'18 and 19 so as to receive direct power in pressing from member 6 which in turh receives its power from treadle 8. The burners 17 are supported above iron-1 1 by any desired means as, for

instance, ears or upstanding members 20, as

clearly seen in Fig. 6. As will be evident any desired number of burners 17 may be provided for properly heating iron 14, and for maintaining the sameheat as desired.

A pipe 21 is provided which is connected with any suitable source ofsupply of com pressed air, and is connected at 22 with interior of iron 14; so that Whenever valve 23 is opened, compressed air will pass on through the same into chambers or passage ways 15 in iron 1%, and will be heated therein. Previous to the air in pipe 21 passing into iron 14 the same passes through a heating coil 21 which isplaced in the heating chamber 100 beneath the sheet iron covering above the iron and above the burners. The

coil 21 may be of any size and construction and is adapted to heat the compressed air previous to its entrance into the iron 14 where it is again heated in its passage there'- through previous to its escape into the gar ment being pressed. The passage of the heated air through the press cloth converts the moisture into steam and vaporizes the steam, and supplies heated air under compression to a garment resting upon one of the elements while the garment is under pressure between the pressing elements. A valve 23 also is preferablyused so that compressed air may be admitted into coil 21 by opening valve 23 but will not be permitted to pass into iron 14:. This will allow for the v heating of compressed air in the coil so that whenever valve 23 is opened heated air may pass into the iron 14k and be superheated and pass on out into the garment being pressed. If desired valve 23 may be omitted and valve 23 used alone. When usedalone valve 23 is opened and air is first passed through the coil 21 and in its passage is heated and again superheated as it passes through iron 14. From the hollow portions or passage ways 15 the heated air will pass out through perforations or openings 2a in iron 14, and will pass downward into the garment being pressed for drying the same, and also for driving out any moisture contained therein. By means of valve 23 the air supply to the '25 and an asbestos covering 26, the asbestos covering 26 being preferably positioned on the outer surface toprevent any undue radi ation of heat from theviron. A plurality of vent holes 27 are provided in order to let out any vitiated air or relieve any pressure created in the housing, and also to supply ample air for the burners 17. The asbestos covering, and also the sheet iron covering, are preferably secured directly to the iron 14, as more clearly seen in Fig. 6.

In order to provide means for moistening the garment to be pressed I arrange a sponge or moistening cloth 28 that is in the form of a belt and extends entirely around the presser head In order to properly feed the. sponge cloth 28 forward a pair of .rollcrs 29 and 30 are provided which engage sponge cloth '28 and move the same when they are revolved. The rollers 29 and 30 preferably extend the full length of the presser head and are mounted in bearings 31 and 32 at the ends of the presser head. crank 33 is provided for roller 29 for providing means whereby the same may be turned. A'pair o f meshing gears 31 and 35 are'provided for rollers 28 and 29 so that whenever crank 33- is moved for rotating roller 29 the gears will operate in connection with each other and rotate roller 30.- In order to properly moisten the sponge cloth 28 a pipe 36 is provided that is adapted to spray water on cloth 29. A valve 37 regulates the amount of water sprayed so that the sponge cloth may be saturated or slightly dampened so as to provide any desired amount of ihoisture for the article desired to be pressed. After the cloth'28 has been provided with moisture crank 33 is moved and cloth 28 is propelled until the moistened part comes beneath iron 14. Lever 3 is then forced downward for forcing the presser head 13 against the buckboard. This will cause the ,cloth to contact with the article to be pressed and to causeiron 14 to press the cloth and to vaporize the moisture in sponge cloth 28. The heating of the moisture in the sponge cloth 28 will cause the same to turn to steam and to thoroughly permeate the article being. pressed. After the pressure has been main tained any desired length of time upon the article compressed air is admitted through valve 23 and is heated as the same passes through iron 14;. The compressed air escapes from iron 14 through apertures 2i into the garment and as the same is heated in its passage will consequently drive out all the moisture from the garment being pressed,--and also thoroughly dry the same. The use of compressed air also provides int means whereby the garment is permeated with air just previous to the raising of the presser head, so that when the presser head is raised the nap of the cloth Will be raised and the cloth will consequently be given a. natural appearance.

In operation when it is desired to use the burners 17, which are supplied With gas through flexible pipe 38, they are lighted and caused to burn until iron 14 has been heated properly, and then the gas is turned down until simply a suflicient heat is provided for maintaining the iron at a predetermined. temperature. The. apparatus is then in condition for immediate use. A garment is spread upon buckboard t and presser head 13 is drawn over to a position above the same as seen in Fig. 3, and then lever 8 is depressed to any desired degree for giving any desired pressure to the presscr head 13. Previous to forcing the presscr head 13 against'the article to be pressed,

' sponge cloth 28 is moistened, by permitting water to escape from pipe 36, which is supplied with water from any suitablesource, and then sponge cloth 28 propelledu'ntil' the moistening part thereof is beneath iron 14. The presscr head then is forced against backboard a for the desired length of time, and then compressed air is permitted to pass from any desired source through valve 23 and into iron 14. From iron 14 the compressed air whichis heatedin iro1i14 passes out through openings or apertures 2 into the garment for driving out the steam created therein by iron ll and ,the moisture in sponge cloth 28. The compressed air is permitted to pass into the article being pressed until all of the moisture has been driven therefrom, and then the presser head is raised and compressed air turned off. If desired the compressed air maybe-turned off previous to the raising of the presser head, but preferably the presscr head is raised previous to the turning oft of the compressed air, so that the article being pressed will be filled with compressed air at the time the same is relieved of pressure so that the compressed air in escaping from the article being pressed will raise the nap thereof and give a fine finish to the pressed article.

What I claim is:

1. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a garment support, a nonrotatable press head having non-communicating chambers and a perforated press plate forming one side of one of the chambers, means for heating the oth chamber, mechanical means for forcing the head toward and from the support, a moistened press cloth across said plate,

and an air conduit.passing through the heating chamber and discharging into the other chamber.

2. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a garment support, an oscillatory press head, a press cloth across the bottom of the head, means for applying moisture to the press cloth, mechanical means for forcing the press head to its pressing position, and meansfor supplying heated air to' the press cloth while the press head is in its pressing position.

3. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a support, a buckboard secured to said support, a pressing iron adapted to press said article, means for heating said iron, an endless traveling spong clothadapted to supply moisture to said article to be pressed, andmeans for passing air through said heated iron for drying off said moisture from said article.

4. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a stationary support for an article to be pressed, a non-rotatable press head movable toward and from'the support and provided with separate non communicating chambers, means formoving said head, a press cloth extending across the bottom of the" head, means for applying moisture to the exterior of the press cloth, and means within one chamber for heating the other chamber.

5.. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a sup port for an article to be pressed, a press head having a foraminous bottom, an endless press cloth extending across the bottom of the head, means for applying moisture to the exterior of the press cloth, and additional means for supplying hea'tedair to the press cloth while the position.

6. In a clothes pressing apparatus,.a support for an article to be pressed, a press head movable between fixed limits for pressing sald article and provided with a hollow iron and a heating chamber therefor, means to heat said chamber, said iron being formed with passage ways therein and apertures connected with said passageways for forming free communication between the passage ways and the surface of said iron, means for causing said iron to press against said article, means for supplying air to the passage ways in said iror ind conducting it through the heating cha -.ber whereby such air is heated.

7. In a clothes pressing apparatus, a support for an article to be pressed, an iron for pressing said article, said iron being formed with passage ways therein and apertures for providing free communication from said passage ways to the surface of said iron, means for heating said iron, means for sup? plying a. dampened cloth between said iron and the article to be pressed. means for fore.- ing said iron against the article to be pressed, and means for forcing compressed air through said iron and into said article.

8. In a pressing machine, a support for receiving an article to be pressed, an oscillatory presscr formed with a foraminous face,

press head is in its pressing fora m'nous face and said article, a burner for heating said presser,means for operating said head whereby when said head is pressed against said article the moisture will be converted into steam and will pass into said article, and means for forcing air into said article.

9. In a pressing machine, a support for receiving an article to be pressed, a presser head, means for heating said presser head, a

sponge cloth surrounding said presser head and forming a continuous moisture supplying means, means for causing said presser head to be forced againstand away from said article, and means whereby moist and dry heated fluids are successively supplied to said article. 1 v

10. In a pressing machine, a support, for

receiving an article to be pressed, a pressmg iron formed with passage ways and a foramious face whereby a free communication is established between said passage waysarfd the surface of said pressing head, means for connecting said passage ways with a source ofcompressed air, means for heating said presser head, a continuous sponge cloth for supplying 'IHOlStHI'Q to the foramious face of the pressing iron, and means for forcing said pressing-iron vagainst the article to be pressed whereby heat, moisture and mechanical pressure are applied simultaneously to said article. J

-11. In a clothes pressing machine, a pressing member having two non-communicating compartments, one of which is provided with a pervious side, a conduit for a'heating fluid traversing one of sai d compartments and discharging into the other compartment, and. means in the compartment traversed by the conduit for heating both compartments and adjacent portion of the conduit.

12. In a fabric pressing mechanism, a fab- -ric support, a press head adapted for coaction with the fabric support, and embodying a foraminous heating face, a sponge cloth p the steam.

13. A- clothes press comprising coacting pressing elements one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanical means for actuating the movable-element, a press cloth between said elements, means for applying moisture to the press cloth, one of a said elements having a hollow press plate and a separate heating chamber therefor, and additional means for passing air through said. chamber and into the hollow plate for heating the press cloth and converting its moisture into steam.-

14. A clothes press comprising coacting' pressing elements one of which is movable toward and from the other, mechanical means for operating the movable element, a press cloth between said elements,'means exterior to the pressing elements for moistening the press cloth, and additional means for applying heated air from-the interior of one of said elements to the press cloth at such temperature as to convert the moisture of the press cloth into steam and to vaporize 15. A clothes press comprising coactmg pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other mechanical means for actuating the movable element; and means for applying heated air under compression to a garment resting upon one of said elements while said garment is under pressure between said pressing elements and until the operation of pressing the garment is completed, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADON J. HOFFMAN.

. l/Vitnesses:

GEORGE J. WEINHEIMER, N. M. HANNA. 

